[Bones1885]

I'm looking for a warm DAC/Amp combo to pair with my TH-900s. Currently I have a Schiit Modi/Magni combo. My price range is something like $800. Thinking a Mousai MSD192 DAC / Bottlehead Crack OTL amp with speedball upgrade. All thoughts and suggestions are welcome, thanks in advance. 

 

[manbear]

I've heard the Mousai. It's pretty nice.

Dont get an OTL amp like the Bottlehead. Output impedance is way too high. I suggest a NuForce HA-200. It's a single ended, class A, low feedback design. It's a solid state amp with smooth highs and a warm, slightly lush midrange. I love it with my TH600. Fantastic synergy.

 

[Bones1885]

I see thanks for the suggestion. I was also thinking of a Gungnir DAC if i could get one used, instead of the Mousai. 

 

[manbear]

The Gungnir is a great DAC but I'm not sure if it makes sense unless you get a balanced amp too. The HA-200 can be run balanced but you have to buy 2 and use them as monoblocks. A new Bifrost is worth considering if you get a single ended amp.

I'd suggest the Audio GD DAC-19 if you can find one used. It is probably the cheapest recently made R2R PCM1704 DAC out there. Very smooth and easy to listen to while still being clean and energetic. Or if you want to buy a USB to coaxial converter, some old R2R dacs are very affordable. An old Adcom is about $200. Check out Purrin's DAC thread for more information. 

The Starting Point Systems Battery DAC is super warm if you want to go down that road. 

 

[Bones1885]

Starting Point Systems NOS Battery DAC, is that the model? 
 
EDIT: Nevermind. I found it.

 

[inthere]

I'm doing a Aune T1 mk2+Asgard 2 stack right now that's extremely warm and sweet going into my TH-600, HE-500's, and Alpha Dogs